[Field 2. Epidemiology (medical errors and patient adverse events). French-speaking Society of Intensive Care. French Society of Anesthesia and Resuscitation].
Iatrogenic pathology is currently a serious problem. Intensive care units (ICU) are wards with a high risk of occurrence of adverse events (AE) related to the care and medical errors. The incidence of AE in ICU varies from 3 to 31% according to the publications. These variations are mainly due to the methodology of data collection. The latter is essential. The indicators must be standardized (consensual definitions), and easily collected. The method of collection must be ideally prospective, nonpunitive, confidential, independent within a compliant team, and realized with the participation of various actors not only of the unit but also external (biologists, pharmacists). The risk factors of AE in ICU are known: old age and high severity scores at admission, with medical and nurse workload more important. AE are associated with an increased patients' morbidity in ICU with no evident causality. The over cost related to AE in ICU was quantified to 3961 dollars in the United States. The mortality of patients with an AE is higher but no study showed to date that AE constituted an independent risk factor of mortality in ICU. Some AE are preventable (from 28 to 84% according to studies). Therefore, the implementation of procedures of security (PS) is capital. Many methods often easy to implement exist such as in care, structural and managerial procedures. The development of a safety culture in hospitals and other delivery care settings is essential. It is the first essential step in a better comprehension of the health care professionals and the public opinion.
Soufir
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L
Département d'anesthésie-réanimation postopératoire, hôpital Saint-Joseph, groupe hospitalier Paris-Saint-Joseph, 185, rue Raymond-Losserand, 75014 Paris, France. lsoufir@hpsj.fr
Auroy
Y
Y
D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011997:Recovery Room / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards